Pictures of seized dogs posted on police Web site

June 04, 2006

GARY (AP) -- Lake County police are posting pictures of confiscated pit bulls on their Web site, after a Merrillville woman discovered one of the dogs seized from a Gary firefighter's property was stolen from her house three years before. Lake County police found 16 pit bulls chained in the backyard of the home last week after a neighbor heard the starving dogs barking and realized he hadn't seen anyone on the property for more than a week. Authorities also found six dead pit bulls, bloody collars, a small treadmill and a six-week workout schedule for the suspected dogfighting operation at the home of firefighter Carlton Davis Jr. No listing for Davis could be found in Lake County. Since the raid, authorities said they've received a growing number of calls from area residents who are worried the animals may have been stolen. None of the dogs are scheduled to be euthanized. Since they are considered evidence in the case, they could be cared for by Animal Control officers for nine months, police said.